# Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand

The Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand (often shortened to YHA New Zealand or YHANZ) was a youth hostelling association in New Zealand. As of 2022, it comprises 16 privately owned associate backpacker hostels—8 in the North Island, and 9 in the South Island. All properties are franchise or associate partners. The Association went into liquidation at the end of 2024, though a website remains with links to hostels at Nelson, Taupō, Waitomo, Westport and Whanganui.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the organisation in 2007, then Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand described YHA NZ as a "standout New Zealand organisation" and "such an iconic feature of holidaying in New Zealand". The YHA hostel in Wellington (now closed) won the Hostelworld "Hoscar" prize for Best Hostel in Oceania in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the YHA hostel in Rotorua (now closed) won the award.
In November 2021, it was reported that YHA New Zealand would close its remaining 11 managed hostels in December, due largely to COVID-related financial losses, however 20 other individually-owned YHAs will continue to operate as normal. These 20 individually-owned YHAs are as follows: Ahipara, Paihia, Bay of Islands, National Park, Taupō, Waitomo, Whanganui, Whangarei, Arthur's Pass, Golden Bay, Hanmer Springs, Kinloch, Nelson, Picton, Punakaiki, Springfield, Westport. The remaining hostels closed on 15 December 2021. In 2022 YHA sold its five remaining hostels (Auckland, Aoraki Mt Cook, Franz Josef, Queenstown Lakefront and Te Anau) and four hostels previously sold to RPZ in 2021 and leased back to manage, were also on-sold to Gaw Capital Holdings Limited (Rotorua, Wellington, Lake Tekapo and Wānaka). Eight of them rejoined as YHA Associates, only Te Akau not keeping the YHA logo. The lease of Christchurch Hereford St was also taken over by Gaw in 2022. The hostels were then refurbished and rebranded Haka House.

## History

The Sunlight League was formed in 1931 in New Zealand and their attention was drawn to German youth hostels later that year; youth hostels had begun in Altena in 1912. The first ones in the Southern Hemisphere were those of the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, after its formation on 8 April 1932, at a meeting of 9 Canterbury tramping organisations, brought together by the League and chaired by Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson. Sir Arthur was elected as President and vice-presidents included Sir Heaton Rhodes and Professors Arnold Wall and Macmillan Brown. Cora Wilding had negotiated for trampers belonging to the clubs forming the Association to stay at nearby Le Bon's Bay, Port Levy, Pigeon's Bay, Okain's Bay, Akaroa, Duvauchelle, and Hill Top, all on Banks Peninsula. Teddington and Diamond Harbour were also added in 1932. YHA-NZ had 895 members by 1953. in 1983 there were 47 hostels, 6,700 life members and 21,000 ordinary members.
It has been a member association of Hostelling International since 1946. YHA New Zealand was established in 1932 in Canterbury by Cora Wilding. The national office is based in Christchurch. A national council was created in 1955. In 1965 there were 39 hostels and 7000 members. Previously, the patron of the association was the Governor-General of New Zealand.

## Current YHA-NZ hostels

This is a list of current YHA-NZ hostels. This section was up-to-date as of March 2024.
| Name | Image | Region | Year opened |
| Aoraki Mt Cook | Haka House, 4 Kitchener Drive | Canterbury | 1958 replaced in 1987 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022 |
| Auckland International | Auckland International YHA in 2015Haka House, Turner St | Auckland | refurbished 2018 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022. |
| Auckland K'Road | 373 Karangahape Road | Auckland | |
| Christchurch | Christchurch without a YHA sign in 2024Haka House, 36 Hereford Street | Canterbury | Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022. |
| Franz Josef | YHA Franz Josef in 2017Haka House 2-4 Cron Street | West Coast | 1980 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022 |
| Hanmer Springs | Kakapo Lodge, 14 Amuri Avenue | Canterbury | |
| Lake Tekapo | Haka House, 5 Motuariki Lane | Canterbury | Closed 15 December 2021, reopened 18 November 2022 |
| Nelson | 59 Rutherford Street | Nelson | |
| Paihia, Bay Of Islands | Level 2/ 76 Marsden Road | Northland | |
| Queenstown | 6 Henry Street | Otago | |
| Queenstown Lakefront | YHA Queenstown Lakeside in 201788-90 Lake Esplanade | Otago | 1972 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022 |
| Rotorua | YHA Rotorua in 2013Haka House, 1278 Haupapa St | Bay of Plenty | 2008 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022. |
| Taupō | Finlay Jacks, 20 Taniwha Street | Waikato | 1984 |
| Waitomo | Juno Hall, 600 Waitomo Caves Road | Waikato | |
| Wānaka | 94 Brownston Street | Otago | 2009 Closed 15 December 2021, reopened 19 December 2022. |
| Wellington | 292 Wakefield Street | Wellington | Closed 15 December 2021, reopened December 2022. |
| Westport | Westport YHATrip Inn, 72 Queen Street | West Coast | |
| Whanganui | Braemar House YHA, Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui | |

## Former hostels

This section lists the locations of former YHA-NZ hostels.
| Name | Image | Region | Opened | Closed |
| Ahipara | | Northland | | Ahipara was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Arthur's Pass | Arthurs Pass YHA | Canterbury | 1955 replacing 1948 hostel | 2023 |
| Bay of Islands, The Rock | | Northland | cruise boat | The Rock Adventure Cruise was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Golden Bay (Tākaka) | | Tasman | | Golden Bay, Annies Nirvana Lodge was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Cora Wilding, Christchurch | | Canterbury | 1966 | 1997 |
| Rolleston House, Christchurch | Rolleston House YHA | Canterbury | 1974 | 2020 |
| City Road, Auckland | Auckland City Road YHA in 2010 | Auckland | 1990, refurbished 2016 | |
| 71 Stafford Street, Dunedin | | Otago | 1969 replaced 1980 | listed 1986 |
| Gisborne | | Gisborne | 1974 | Gisborne was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| 1190 Victoria Street, Hamilton | | Waikato | 1961, replaced 1981 | 2006 to 2013 |
| Hokitika | | West Coast | | Hokitika, Birdsong Backpackers was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Kinloch, Glenorchy | | Otago | | Kinloch, Wilderness Retreat was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Montgomery, Hill Top | | Canterbury | 1957 | |
| Napier | Napier YHA in 2018 | Hawke's Bay | 1984 | |
| National Park | | Manawatū-Whanganui | | Backpackers still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| 42 Weka Street, Nelson | | Nelson | 1981 | after 2010 |
| New Plymouth | | Taranaki | | New Plymouth, Sunflower Lodge was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Ōkārito | | West Coast | 1958 | 1990 |
| Kukupa, Pigeon Bay | | Canterbury | 1952 | 1995 |
| Paihia | | Northland | | Paihia was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Picton | | Marlborough | | The Villa was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Punakaiki | | West Coast | | Punakaiki, Te Nikau Retreat was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Queenstown Central | | Otago | | Closed 15 December 2021, lease not renewed |
| Raglan | Solscape, YHA Raglan in 2016 | Waikato | during 2010s | |
| Springfield | | Canterbury | | Springfield, Smylies was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 |
| Te Anau | | Southland | 1961 replaced 1977 and again since | Closed 15 December 2021, sold in 2022 for staff accommodation |
| Trout Stream, Cooper’s Creek | | Canterbury | 1948 now derelict | |
| Whangārei | | Northland | | Whangārei Falls Holiday Park was still affiliated to YHA in November 2021 Closed 2022 |